Johnson, 29, helped Australia transfer into a powerful place with two wickets with the brand new ball earlier than he suffered below an avalanche from skipper Charith Asalanka, who sparked a turnaround as Sri Lanka ran out eventual 49-run winners.
“It is clearly one thing I’ve pictured in my thoughts, to return in and play an identical function to him,” Johnson mentioned in regards to the Starc comparisons. “There have been a number of nerves there, and clearly massive footwear to fill.
“I believe I’m higher for the run, it is solely my third ODI, hopefully a number of extra and I am going to be capable of replicate a few of the stuff he is finished.”
Whereas it is simple to see why Johnson is likened to Starc, he principally threatens by awkward bounce and probes away at a again of a size utilizing his towering top to good impact.
However after being carved by level by opener Pathum Nissanka, Johnson neatly readjusted to a fuller size and produced an edge to assert his maiden ODI wicket in his third match.
Johnson’s second wicket was maybe extra fortuitous when he had Kamindu Mendis chipping tamely to sq. leg, however he bowled persistently round 140 kph with the brand new ball and his rearing bounce was spectacular on a dry floor.
It would simply foreshadow what’s forward in Pakistan the place he’s nearly sure to be handed the brand new ball with a shorthanded Australia additionally with out injured frontline quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
“Guys like Trent Boult and Starcy, left-armers who’re aggressive, hopefully it is what I can deliver to Pakistan,” Johnson mentioned. “I believe this wicket isn’t what we will recover from in Pakistan.
“It was good to bowl on early with the brand new ball, and there was a little bit of nip and carry. However [Pakistan] shall be completely different to what we acquired right here, probably a bit flatter.”
Australia’s selectors have been unsurprisingly eager to check Johnson within the shorter codecs. The 29-year-old Johnson has performed 11 white-ball internationals since debuting in South Africa in August 2023.
However he is to date in his profession principally performed T20 cricket. Considerably a product of franchise cricket, Johnson is already a veteran of the circuit having additionally performed within the IPL, Main League Cricket, T20 Blast and The Hundred.
However he is had restricted publicity within the longer codecs with Johnson having performed simply 11 Listing A matches and 6 first-class matches. In his final first-class match in November, he snapped a tendon within the center toe of his proper foot throughout South Australia’s Sheffield Protect sport towards Western Australia after bowling 45 overs for the match.
Set to be a key a part of Australia’s Champions Trophy line-up, Johnson will now get a protracted block within the 50-over format and an opportunity to construct on a modest report of 12 wickets at 42.25 from 11 Listing A matches.
“Clearly 4 overs [in T20 cricket] versus 10 overs is somewhat bit completely different, however the way in which I sequence my overs is fairly comparable,” Johnson mentioned. “I really feel like I am able to play for Australia and I’ve had somewhat little bit of a style in T20 cricket and now a few ODIs. So heading to Pakistan it is thrilling and I am able to go.”
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist primarily based in Perth
